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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E G. GRDVER... COMBINED BAND CUTTER AND GRAIN FEEDER FOR THRASHERS. No. 345,230. Patented July 6, 1886.

I l" 0- 17 I .27 5 T x W WITNESSES: gVENTOR:

LJ Jud HM] I ATTORNEYS.

(N0 Model.) I 2 Sheets-She'e'tjZ. 0. GROVER.

COMBINED BAND CUTTER AND GRAIN FEEDER FOR THRASHEES.v

Patented July 6,1886.

INVENTOR ATTORNE N rnzns mmuamnmr, Walhington. ac.

UNITED ST TES ATENT Quarea:

CHARLES GROVER, OITKANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

COMBINED BAND-CUTTER AND GRAIN-FEEDER FOR THRASHERIS;

EPECILFECATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 345,230, dated July 6, 1886.

Application filed February 12. 1886. Serial No. 191,728. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES GROVER, of Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Band-Gutter and Grain-Feeder for Thrashers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact dc-Z scription.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate board E can be detached by loosening the corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved; band-cutter and grain-feeder, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same, taken through the line or m, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the guide-boards Fig. 4' is a side elevation of the same.

and its attachments.

The object of this invention is to improve; the construction of the combined band-cutter and grain-feeder for which Letters Patent No. 324,767 were issued to me August 18, 1885, in such a manner as to make them more effective and reliable in operation.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of Various parts of the machine, as will be hereinafter fully described, 5

I 9, passed through a hole in the prong at the and pointed out in the claims.

*A represents the frame of the machine, the sides of which are closed bya casing, B. The, delivery end of the frame A is designed to be connected with the receiving end of a thrasher by hooks or other suitable means, and its reand the space between the said feed-boards is divided by a center-board, E, so that bundles of grain can be put into the machine on bothsides of the said center-board, and will be compelled to take a position lengthwise with the machine, and will be carried rearward in that position.

To the lower part of the receiving end of the center-board E is attached auiron clamp,

1, the lower end of which overlaps the upper part of the end casing of the machine, and is slotted to receive the thumb-screws 2, thatsecure it to the said casing. The rear end of the center-board E is extended upward, and

to its upper corner is attached a hook-arm, 3, which enters a bearing, 4, attached to the top cross-bar of the frame A. \Vhen unbound grain is to be fed to the thrasher, the centerlaps and receives the upper part of the forward end of the center-board E. The middle part of the clamp 7 is perforated to 1'6 ceive a prong, 8, attached to the upper forward corner of the center-board E, and issecured in place upon the said prong'by a pin,

outer side of thesaid clamp,"as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

When the extension-board 5 is used, the grain is putin from both sides of the machine; but when the grain is to be put in from only-one side of the machine the extension-board 5 is removed, and a side board, 10, is applied to the side of the machine opposite the side from which the grain is to be pitched,to.prevent the bundles that are pitched over the centerboard E from falling out of the machine, and to compel them totake a proper position on the carrier, so that bundles can be pitched upon both sides of the center-board from one side of the machine.

To one side of the rear end of the side board, 10,are attached projections or prongs 11, which cuter keepers 12, attached to the casing B.

To the lower part of the forward end of the side board, 10, is attached the upper end of an iron arm or clamp, 13, the lower end of which overlaps the casing B, and is slotted to receive the thumbscrews 14, that secure it to the said casing, so that the said sideboard can be readily detached by loosening the thumbscrews 14.

G are endless chains, to which, at suitable distances apart, are attached cleats H, provided with teeth I. The spaces between the cleatsH are closed with canvas, 15,which is attached to the said cleats, so that the bundles and shelled grain will be carried rearward with greater certainty. The carrierG H I 15 is supported by bottom boards, F, and thelower edge of the center board E is arranged at such a height above the receiving part of the said bottom boards, F, that the toothed cleats H I and the canvas 15 will have a free passage beneath the said edge. The bottom boards, F,

q are attached to the frame A, and the receiving part of the said bottom boardsinclines upward toward the center of the machine, and the delivery part inclines downward from the said center.

16 are guide-boards, to the upper and lower corners of which are attached, or upon them are formed, perforated projections or lugs 17, through which pass pins 18, which also pass through lugs 19, attached to the rear portion of the center-board E, and to the casing B.

Upon the pins 18, between the lugs 17, are placed two spiral springs, 20, coiled iu opposite directions. Theinner ends of the springs 20 are attached to the middle parts of the pins 18, and their outer ends are attached to the lugs 17. The tension of the springs 20 is regulated by turning the pins 18, and the said pins are held from being turned back by the tension of the said springs 20 by the latches 21, pivoted to the base-plates of the lugs 19, and arranged to be turned down at the sides of the heads of the pins 18, as shown in Fig. 5.

Twoguide boards, 16,are used for each bandcutting knife, and the springs 20 are arranged to swing the free ends of thesaid guide-boards toward the said knives. The lower edges of the guide-boards 16 are arranged at such a height above the bottom boards, F, that the toothed cleats H and the canvas 15 will have a free passage beneath the said edges. The attachments at the forward ends of the guideboards 16 are covered by guard-plates 22, attached at their forward edges to the centerboard E and the casing 15, with their rear edges overlapping the said guideboards, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the grain-stalks cannot become entangled'in the said attachments. With this construction the guideboards 16 will guide small bundles of grain into-such positions that their bands will be cut with certainty by the knives, and the spiral springs 20 will allow the said guide-boards to yieldwhen large bundles are passingthrough the machine, and will bring the said guideboards back to their normal positions, ready for the next bundles. The endless chains G atthe forward end of the machine pass around chain-wheels J, attached to a roller-shaft, K, the journals of which revolve in bearings L, the securing-bolts of which latter pass through slots in the side bars of the frame A, so that said bearings can be adjusted to tighten or slacken the endless chains G, as may be required. The bearings L are adjusted by screws in the ordinary manner, which screws are not shown in the drawings, as there is nothing new in their construction. The endless chains G at the angle or highest point of the bottom boards, F, pass over a roller, M, the journals N of which revolve in bearings in the frame A. The roller M forms a support for the canvas 15, and prevents the cleats H from being sprung by the downward pressure while the knives are cutting the bands. At the forward end of the machine the endless chains G pass around chain-wheels 0, attached to the drive-shaft P. the journals of which revolve in hearings in the frame A. The endless chains G are covered by strips 23, attached to the casing B a little above the said endless chains G, as shown at one side in Fig. 1, to prevent the grain-stalks from becoming entangled in the said endless chains.

To the drive-shaft P, between the chainwheels 0, is attached a wooden roller, 24, to keep the canvas 15 taut while passing around the said drive-shaft.

To one end of the drive-shaft P is attached a pulley, Q, around which passes an endless To the drive-shaft P is also attached a sec ond large pulley, W, around which passes an endless belt, X. The belt X is crossed and passes around a small pulley, Y, attached to the end of the shaft Z, so that the said shaft Z will receive a rapid movement from the slow movement of the drive-shaft P. The shaft Z revolves in bearings in the frame A, is directly over the highest point of the bottom boards, F, and to it are secured one or more circular cutters or knives, a, the teeth a of which are rounded, as shownin Fig. 3, so that the straw or other material forming the bands will not adhere to them.

To the cutter-shaft Z is attached a fly-wheel, b, to give steadiness of movement to the shaft Z and the cutting-knives a.

To the forward edge of the cross-bar k, secured at its ends to the frame A, in rear of the cutting-knives a, are attached the rear ends of the fenders c, which are nearly as wide as the spaces between the knives a and between the side knives and the casing B. The fenders c are curved to pass beneath the cutter'shaft Z, and their forward ends are attached to the cross-bar d, secured to the casing B, a little forward of the top cross-bar of the frame A.

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To the other end of the cutter-shaft Z is atother end of which is pivoted to a crank, t,

tache'd a small pulley, 6, around which passes a belt, f. The'be'ltf also passes around apulley, 9, attached to a journal of the cylinder h, thejournals of which revolve in hearings in the frame A. The cylinder h is made of octagon'al or other desired shape, has annular grooves iformed in it opposite the knives a, and is so placed that the edges of the said knives will be in thesaid grooves as the knives and cylinder are revolved.

To the cylinder 71, at each side of each annular groove 2', are attached curved teeth 25,"so that the knives cannot become clogged with the straw or other material on which the said cutters operate. With this construction, as the bundles are carried forward by the carrier G H I 15, they pass between the guide-boards 16 and beneath the knives a, by which their bands are out. As the loose bundles pass from the knives a, they are spread evenly over the carrier G H I 15 by thespreaders j, which are attached at their forward upper corners to the cross-bar It. The rear upper corners of the spreaders j are recessed to embrace the cross-bar l5, and are secured to the said crossbar by pins 26, passing through the said crossbar and the upper rear corners of the said spreaders. The apertures through the crossbar k are flared upon their rear sides toward theirlower ends, giving them a triangular form, so that the lower rear parts of the spreaders j can swing up and down vertically to accommodate themselves to the thickness of the grain passing through the machine. The spreaders j at their forward upper corners are pivoted to a cross-bar, Z, so that the said spreaders can be vibrated laterally to spread the grain by the longitudinal movements of the said bar Z. To one end of the cross-bar Zis pivoted the end ofa coimecting-bar, 27, the other end of which is pivoted to the upper arm of the crankshaft m, which rocks in bearings attached to the frame A, and to its lower arm is pivoted one end of aconnecting'rod, a. The other end of the connecting-rod a is pivoted to a crank-pin attached to the pulley S on the shaft T, so that the spreadersj will be vibrated by the revolution of the said shaft. \Vhen grain in large quantities is passing through the machine, it is kept baek'in part and is made to pass on in uniform and proper quantity by the prongs 0, attached to the shaft 1), which rocksin hearings on the top of the frame A.

To the shaft 12, or to arms attached to the said shaft, and upon the opposite side from the prongs 0, is secured a fender, 28, to prevent the grain detained by the prongs 0 from passing over the said shaft 10.

To one end of the rock-shaftp is attached a crank, q, to which is pivoted one end of a connecting-rod, r. The other end of the rod ris pivoted to a crank-pin attached to the pulley g on the shaft of the cylinder h.

To a crank-pin attached to the pulleyQ is pivoted one end of a connecting-rod, s, the

attached to the end of a shaft, a; The shaft a rocks in bearings attached to the rear end of the machine, and to the said shaft a are attached rearward]y-projecting prongs or teeth 1). The shaft a and the rear parts of the teeth care covered by a fender, 29, to prevent the chaff and the grain from falling between the teeth a and clogging the shalt a. The fender 29 projects in the rear of the shaft a, and extends back to the roller 20, pivoted to the frame A at the delivery end of the carrier G H115. With this construction, by the movement of the shaft 10, teeth 1), and fender 29, the grain-stalksare shaken and loosened,

and are delivered to the cylinder of the thrasher. The roller 11; carries the grain from the carrier G H I 15 to the agitator a v 29, and to one of the ends of the said roller 10 is attached a small gear-wheel, 1r, into the teeth of which mesh the teeth of the larger intermediate gear-wheel, y, journaled to the frame A. Into the teeth of the intermediate gearwheel,1, mesh the teeth of the small gearwheel 2, attached to the drive-shaft P, so that the roller 10 will be revolved in the same direction as and at a greater velocity than the Slld drive-shaft P. With this construction bound or headed grain will be fed to thrashers evenly and uniformly and at any desired rapidity.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. In a combined band-cutter and grainfeeder for thrashers, the combination, with the frame A, the casing B, 'and the centerboard E, having upwardly-extended rear end, of the hook 3, the clamp 1, and the thumbscrew 2, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the said center-board will beheld securely in place and can be readily detached, as set forth.

2. In a combined bandcutter and grainfeeder for thrashers, the combination, with the center-board E,having prongs 8, of the extensionboard 5, having prongs 6 and clamp 7 ,substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the throwing of grain over the said center-board is prevented, as set forth.

3. In a combined band-cutter and grainfeeder for thrashers, the combination, with the frame A and the casing B, having keepers 12, of the side board, 10, having prongs 11 at its rear end, and clamp 13 and thumbscrew 14 at its forward end, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the throwing of grain over the machine is prevented, as set forth.

4. In a combined band-cutter and grainfeeder for thrashers, the combination, with the casing B, the center-board E, and the bearings 19, attached thereto, of the guide-boards 16, having lugs 17, the headed pins 18, passing through the said lugs and the bearings, the wire springs 20, attached to the said pins and to the said guide-boards, the latches 21,

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and the covering-plates 22, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the bundles will be properly guided to the cutters, as set forth. t

5. In a combined band-cutter and grainfeeder for thrashers, the combination, with. the cutters a and the cylinder h, having annular grooves i, of the sets of curved teeth 25, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the teeth of the said cutters are'kept clear, as set forth.

6. In a combined band-cutter and grainfeeder for thrashers, the combination, with the carrier and the rock-shaftp and its downward- ]y-projeeting prongs 0, of the guard-board 28, substantially as herein shown and described,

whereby the grain stopped by the said prongs will be kept from passing over the said shaft, as set forth.

7. In a combined band-cutter and grainfeeder for thrashers, the combination, with the carrier, the rook-shaft u at the rear outer corner, and prongs o, of the guard-board 29, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the ehali' and grain shaken loose by the said prongs are kept from clogging the said shaft, as set forth.

CHARLES G ROVER.

\Vitnesses:

D. A. N. Gnovnn, G. F. PUTNAM. 

